FACTS ABOUT MALE SEXUAL ABUSE

FACT #6 – Male survivors are not more likely to become sexual abusers

Simply put – the majority of males who are sexually abused do not become sexual abusers.

Otherwise know as the “Vampire Myth” this toxic stereotype is especially dangerous because it can create terrible stigma and shame, reinforcing fears in both the victim and his family that he is destined to become an offender. As a result survivors who report can sometimes be treated as potential perpetrators rather than victims who need help. In addition, adult men who experienced sexual abuse can delay disclosure for fear of being labeled as a potential risk to their own or other people’s children. Many studies investigating the link between victimization and perpetration show that it is a minority of offenders who report experiencing sexual abuse as children: